When we last saw our hero, we were high-fiving every person we knew...and some we didn't...about the incredible potential outcomes of this past Monday's ear reconstruction. Too much great news to repeat so if you missed it, just stop reading now and do a quick read-through of the last blog posted. For the rest of you who weren't slackers, here's a post-surgical update.
Honestly, it's pretty unbelievable that we are only 5 days since the marathon surgery. Again, major props to Zane's incredible surgical team. But the real endurance challenge for us was what's happened since we left the hospital on Tuesday...feels like weeks.
I elected to hold off on this update until we could catch our breath...but I'll go ahead and do it now regardless! :/
As always, Zane is quite the trooper, but it's definitely been a much-more difficult process than his previous surgeries. The graft behind his ear doesn't seem to be causing him much grief, but the other two across his hips are giving him significant pain. The incision runs hip-to-hip. Yikers. I've elected not to share pics publicly (for Zane's sake), but I've taken quite a bit. It's rather shocking, but it helps see the big picture when things feel like it's not getting any better.
The second major issue was that the hospital only sent us home with ibuprofen and tylenol for pain, along with his antibiotic...even though some stronger pain meds were included in his discharge papers. Once we figured that out, it's been much easier to control that extreme pain. The worse part in regard to pain is that it hits him very hard at random times, unrelated to his meds.
Bath time. You feel free to imagine all sorts if insanity...you'd just about hit the mark. There was screaming, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. That poor kid was covered in dried blood, and half a head of hair. He was less than thrilled. "What did they do to my new haircut?!?"
Saving the best for last, the most trying element of the recovery is that Zane has been waking up 5-6 times every night...which means we haven't gotten much sleep either. Chris has slept with him the past few nights...tonight is my turn. Fabulous. It's pretty tricky keeping the plastic cone and strap in place...he pulled it off completely last night. :/
How's that for Debbie Downer?!? Sorry...transparency is kinda my thing. I will say, however, that he's doing great overall. The pain was significantly lessened today...to the point that I had to stay on Zane continually to stay calm. I know...laugh out loud. It's cool.
The only thing more hilarious would be if you saw what Zane's been wearing...and not wearing...in order to deal with the pain. Don't ask. Please.
We will head back for a post-op appointment next Tuesday. The plan that day will be just a peak and chat with the docs and the setting of the second post-op the following week. We were able to remove the compression wraps yesterday, but the rest of the wrap and inner ear packing won't come out until that second visit. Zane will have to wear the cone 24/7 for roughly a month...and will need to continue to wear it at night for another couple months to protect it while he's sleeping.
Please pray for pain relief as well as wound recovery. The biggest request Chris and I would have would be for encouragement for Zane. He's pretty down in the dumps and is really struggling with the whole deal. We would so appreciate your continued love and prayers. :)
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